Door-latch.



c. A. PAINTER, 1. & J. P. McKINNEY, 1R.

' DOOR LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18, 1915.

1,1?2,899. Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

WITNESSES the line 22, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a sec-,

IINITED TAT PAEN FI C.

CHARLES A. PAINTER, 33., AND JAMES RMoKINNEY, JR, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENN- SYLVANIA.

noon-LATCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES A. PAINTER, Jr., andJAMEs P. MCKINNEY, Jr., citizens of the United States, and residents of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Door-Latches; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Our invention relates to latches for doors, gates, etc., and is particularly adapted for automobile doors, although it may have a much wider application.

Our invention. consists, generally stated, in a door having a movable section in the top horizontal portion, said section being adapted to swing or slide, or otherwise movable, and connections between said movable section and the bolt whereby upon moving said portion, the bolt is thrown back and the, door released. By such construction, there is no hardware exposed or projecting portion which is liable to be injured by exposure, and as the movable portion forms part of the upper panel of the door, to all appearances it is part and parcel of the door.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is an outside elevation of a door, such as an automobile door, the door on the opposite side being partly broken away to show the locking mechanism; Fig. 2 is a section on tion on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the numeral 2 designates a suitable automobile door which is hinged to the main body at 3, said door, as is usual, being made up of the inner-panel 4 and the outer-panel 5, which leaves the open space 6, which is closed at top and bottom by the top horizontal portion 7 and the lowerpanel 8. The top horizontal portion has the movable portion or section 9, which in the case illustrated, is hinged by a suitable hinge 10 to the front-panel 5 of the door. The inner edge of the movable section 9 hasa slight overhang 11 for convenience in grasping said movable section in orderto lift it to the position indicated in dotted lines, in order to withdraw-the bolt. The overhang may be slightly recessed in order to provide for the convenient introduction of the fingers in grasping said movable section. Connected to the movable section 9 by the bolt 12 is the link 13 which, in turn, is

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnted F b, 22, 1916, Application filed October 18, 1915. Serial No. 56,486.

connected up by the bolt 14 the slidin plate 15. The plate 15 has the slot 16, whic engages the stud 17 on the plate 18, which is secured by the screws 19 to the outerpanel 5. A toggle-arm 20 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the guide-plate 15, and the opposite end of said arm engages the head 21 on the inner end of the said guide-plate in that direction when said guide-plate is raised, and the arm 20 acts to force back the bolt 22, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig; 1. 1

To open the door, the operator simply grasps the movable section 9 of the top, horizontal portion, and with the fingers engaging the overhang ll'and the mecessed under-portion thereof, the said movable section is readily raised to the position indicated in dotted lines Fig. 2, and by this movement theguide-plate 15 is raised, and

the arm 20 by a toggle action, acts to force the bolt 22 back to the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1, which withdraws the head 25 from engagement with the bodyportion of the automobile, and thus releases the door so that it can be swung open on its hinges 3. When it is desired to close the door, it may be done in the ordinary manner to allow the headofthebolt 25 to fly into position; or, the door may be closed without slamming by simply raising the section 9 and lowering it when the door has been brought into position for closing.

By our invention, we provide a very simple form of latch in which there is.

horizontal portion of the'door, a bolt and connections between said bolt and said movable sections. v

p 3. In a door or like structure, the combination of a hinged section in the top horizontal portion of the door, a locking device, and connections between said hinged section and said locking device. I

4. Ina door or like structure, the combination of a hinged section in the top horizontal portion of the door, a spring actuated bolt, and connections between said section and said bolt.

5. Ina door or like structure, the combination of a hinged section in the top horizontal portion of the door, a bolt, a guideplate, a toggle-arm connected to said guideplate, and the inner end of said bolt being engaged by said toggle-arm.

6. In a door or like structure,the cornbi- I nation of a hinged section in the top horizontal portion of the door, aguide-plate, a toggle-arm connected to said guide-plate, and a spring-actuated bolt, the inner end of said bolt being engaged by said toggle-arm.

7. In a door or like structure, the combination of a hinged section in the top horizontal portion of the door, a guide-plate connected to said section, a stop for said guide-plate, a toggle-arm connected to said guide-plate, and a bolt, the inner endof said bolt being engaged by said toggle-arm.

In testimony whereof, We, the said CHARLES A. PAINTER, Jr., and JAMES P.

MCKINNEY, Jr. have hereunto set our hands.

CHARLES A. PAINTER, JR. JAMES P. McKINNEY, JR. Witnesses: v v J OHN F. WiLL, J. R. KELLER. 

